Mexican Prostitute May Have Murdered US Airways Flight Attendant

Nick Aaronson, a 33-year-old US Airways flight attendant, was found dead in his hotel room during a layover in Mexico City on Saturday morning. Aaronson, who was based in Phoenix, grew up in West Covina.

He was discovered naked and beaten on the floor with his hands tied behind his back. His own belt was tied around his neck, and another belt bound his hands. Aaronson's luggage was dumped out across the room, and police reported that no drugs or weapons were discovered in the room. His body indicated that he had been struck several times.

New details have emerged in the investigation that point the finger at Jose Ramirez, a 20-year-old prostitute known as "the shadow." Hotel surveillance video shows Aaronson signing in Ramirez to the hotel.

After Aaronson's body was discovered, Ramirez was tracked down using the victim's cellphone and arrested.

Ramirez admits to beating Aaronson but claims that the victim was alive when he left the hotel room. The suspect has an existing police record in Mexico and has been identified by several witnesses.

Aaronson's mother, Anita Aaronson, said, "I wish they had the death penalty in Mexico. He took the bright life out of my life," reports CBS LA.

The President of the Association of Flight Attendants Council 66, Deborah Hope, knew the victim well and said of him, "Nick is a very popular flight attendant, very happy, great personality, very open and compassionate."

An autopsy is being performed to determine an exact cause of death.